Design

Setting

A university hospital and a trauma centre in Miami, Florida, USA.

Patients

51 patients ≥18 years of age who were admitted to the trauma/emergency surgery or colorectal services and had dirty abdominal
wounds at the time of surgery. Dirty abdominal wounds were defined as involving pre-existing clinical infection, perforated
viscera, or traumatic wounds with viscus injury more than 4 hours from the time of injury with retained devitalised tissue.
96% of patients (mean age 46 y, 76% men) were included in the final analysis.

Intervention

Allocation was stratified by type of wound (appendectomy and other abdominal wounds). 26 patients were allocated to …